Vandals hit Worcester's Federal Square

WORCESTER — Volunteers from The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts spent a part of their Christmas Eve cleaning up after vandals tore through the 10,000-square-foot park in Federal Square.

Someone wrenched three of the four screeching cranes off the bolts that attached them to the three-ton cast-iron fountain, on which sits a likeness of the goddess of justice.

The vandal or vandals also yanked down parts of decorations — garlands, bows and lights that had been placed on the fountain — and left them strewn on the ground.

Decorative cabbages and other plants were ripped from the dirt and thrown into the street and onto the sidewalk.

"It looks like the Grinch stole Christmas," said Richard LaPlant, a member of the Hanover Garden Club, as he and Rich Trifone did their best to clean up the wreckage Tuesday afternoon. The damaged birds appeared broken beyond repair, with their arching necks snapped at the base.

The case is under investigation, Police Sgt. Kerry F. Hazelhurst wrote in an email Tuesday evening. No arrests had been made, though the park is overlooked by security cameras perched on the Harold D. Donohue Federal Building.

"We're really sorry to hear that somebody would lash out and destroy the hard work of so many volunteers," said Lisa Condit, a spokeswoman for the theater. "All in all I feel like everybody in the neighborhood really respects (the park)."

For the last five years, Mr. LaPlant and about 15 other volunteers have spent countless hours in the upkeep of the space.

A two-year project applying fresh paint to the rusted fountain was only recently completed, Mr. LaPlant said. The elaborate structure was erected about 20 years ago as part of a nearly $1 million renovation of the square.

But in about 15 years, Federal Plaza Park fell into disrepair under city management and became a popular hangout for homeless people. The vegetation was out of control and the ground became littered with empty bottles, cans and cigarette butts.

In 2007, the Hanover Theatre was granted a property tax break of nearly $2.7 million over seven years to finance the theater. One part of that agreement was that the owner of the building as well as the Worcester Business Development Corp. had to fund the revitalization of the plaza, including repairs to the rusted fountain and installation of new fencing and lighting. The theater also agreed to budget $20,000 annually to maintain the park.

Since the group has taken over maintenance of the park, Mr. LaPlant said, this is the worst case of vandalism it has experienced.

A handful of times plants have been pulled out, he said, but nothing has been this bad.

"I couldn't even imagine what that cost," he said of roughly 75-pound birds. Struggling with bringing them upright, he said, "Whoever did this had to be strong."

David Corchado, who works in the courthouse, was walking past the park Tuesday morning, as he does every day, when he saw the decorations, cabbage plants and dirt scattered across the sidewalk. He said he had noticed while leaving work Monday night that the park looked great.

"I always see them keeping it nice and clean and beautiful," he said. "They do a nice job."

Mr. LaPlant said the park is like "the front door to the theater," adding that it is not uncommon for people to take wedding pictures under the Greek-style colonnade at the north end of the park.

This spring, the volunteers plan to install perennial plants that Mr. LaPlant said will bloom in the spring, summer and fall.

"It's a labor of love," he said.

Contact Alli Knothe at aknothe@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @KnotheA